Isaac Creek COE Campground - Franklin, Alabama (May 2021)

First, this campground has to be a destination because it isn’t close to anything. I thought it was about 20-30 minutes off I-65. I misjudged the distance by an hour. It was closer to an hour and 20 minutes off the Interstate.

Second, we passed Holman State Prison on our way to this campground. This is where Alabama's "death row" is located. We were weary about the prospect of camping too close to a maximum-security facility. As it turned out, this prison was about 30 minutes from the campground.

Third, it is a bad omen when the camp host informs you that there is nothing to do at the campground and the community around it. We quickly discovered that was true. You want to make sure you have all of the supplies you need when you arrive because you are miles and miles away from a store. 

Fishing seems to be the primary reason people camp here. 

Sign at entrance to the campground

The campground volunteer's check-in building

Having said that, the sites along the river were  beautiful. They were also large and well shaded. 

Large sites along the river

Great view from our site

There were several indications that this may be an older campground. It has been a long time since we saw a working pay phone and a public water fountain in a campground. Both were near our site. 

A public water fountain in the campground

It looks like a pay phone outside the bath house

Yes, it is a real pay phone in 2021!

Maybe the pay phone was needed since cellular service was spotty in the campground. 

We arrived in the afternoon and left early the next morning, so we didn't have time to fully explore this campground. The neighbors around us appeared to be enjoying the park and the hosts were very friendly and helpful as they volunteered to switch us to a site with a better view when we arrived.

Here are some specifics about this campground:

• There were two loops in the campground. The sites along the river bank were larger and nicer than the other sites.
• Our site was paved with concrete and was mostly level
• Our site had 20, 30 and 50 amp electrical service 
• Our site had a water connection
• Our site did not have a sewer connection 
• There was a dump station in the park. 
• There were trash cans in front of each campsite
• There was a bathhouse but in the campground. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we did not check on its condition
• The park did not provide WiFi service 
• AT&T provided one bar of intermittent 4G voice and data service over our campsites 
• We were not able to watch any TV stations using Rosie’s TV antenna.  Rosie is our Airstream trailer.
• This was a pet friendly park 

View of the dam on the Alabama River

Selfie in the campground

Rosie through the trees